Bandi Chhor Divas (Punjabi: ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ (Gurmukhi); meaning "Day of Liberation") is a Sikh celebration commemorating the day the sixth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Hargobind and 52 Hindu Kings were released from Gwalior Fort, who had been imprisoned by Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Emperor Jahangir had held 52 Kings at the Gwalior Fort for several months.
Gurdwara Data Bandi Chhor Sahib is located at the place of the Guru's internment in the Fort. The day falls in autumn and often overlaps with Hindu Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated across Punjab and the rest of India. Historically, from the time of the third Sikh Guru Amar Das, Sikhs and Hindus of the time used the occasion of Diwali, Vaisakhi and other such festivals to congregate at the seat of the Gurus.[1][2][3] In 2003, Sikh religious leaders and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee led by Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar formally adopted this day into the Nanakshahi calendar.[4]
The Bandi Chhor Divas is celebrated by the lighting up of homes and Gurdwaras, celebratory processions (nagar kirtan) and langar (community kitchen). It is an important Sikh celebration along with Vaisakhi, Hola Mohalla and Gurpurab.[4][5]
^William Owen Cole; Piara Singh Sambhi (1995). The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Sussex Academic Press. pp. 135–136. ISBN 978-1-898723-13-4.[permanent dead link], Quote: "Since the time of Guru Amar Das it has been customary for Sikhs to assemble before their Guru on three of the most important Hindu festival occasions - Vaisakhi, Divali and Maha Shivaratri".
^Kathleen Kuiper (2010). The Culture of India. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 127. ISBN 978-1-61530-149-2.
^Eleanor Nesbitt (2016). Sikhism: a Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. pp. 28–29, 59. ISBN 978-0-19-874557-0.
^ abEleanor Nesbitt (2016). Sikhism: a Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. pp. 6, 122–123. ISBN 978-0-19-874557-0.
^Glimpses of Sikhism By Major Nahar Singh Jawandha
BandiChhorDivas (Punjabi: ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ (Gurmukhi); meaning "Day of Liberation") is a Sikh celebration commemorating the day the sixth Guru of Sikhs...
These Martyrs are observed 21 December and 26 December respectively. BandiChhorDivas was celebrated when Guru Hargobind sahib ji was released from Gwalior...
on Diwali. This important event in Sikh history is now termed the BandiChhorDivas festival. Aurangzeb's brother, Murad Bakhsh and nephew Sulaiman Shikoh...
Diwali, the post-2003 calendar released by SGPC has named it the BandiChhorDivas. Sikhs celebrate Guru Hargobind's release from the Gwalior Fort, with...
(Birth anniversaries of the other 8 Sikh gurus), Gurgadi Divas (passing of guruship), Jyotijot Divas (death anniversaries of other Sikh gurus), Basant Festival...
SGPC with three dates: Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Birth, Holla Mohalla, and BandiChhorDivas kept movable as per the old Bikrami system as a compromise. The calendar...
Punjabi Sikhs includes the festivals of Sikhism like- Gurupurab, BandiChhorDivas, etc. Figure is total Sikh population on census. "Who are Sikhs and...
University. p. 158. ISBN 978-8-1738-0736-7. Williams, Victoria (2016). "Dastaar Bandi and Amrit Sanchar, Sikhism". Celebrating life customs around the world :...
Colors Navy blue and xanthic Anniversaries Vaisakhi, Holla Mohalla, BandiChhorDivas Commanders Founders Guru Gobind Singh Mata Sahib Kaur Panj Pyare Bhai...
funeral rites Naam Karan — child's naming ceremony Sadharan Paath BandiChhorDivas — a celebration during Diwali Gurpurab — the celebration of an anniversary...
Zakaria Khan, for permission to hold the Diwali festival to celebrate BandiChhorDivas at the Harmandir Sahib. The permission was granted for a tribute of...
Harmandir Sahib where he breathed his last. The Singhs celebrated the BandiChhorDivas of 1757 in Harmandir Sahib". On 14 January 1761, in the aftermath...
Global Information
